Manukau Win Northern Districts Club Championship

Published on 10 Oct 2016

Counties- Manukau's top club side is now Northern Districts' top club team. Manukau is the new holder of the Eric Petrie Trophy, and will go on to represent Northern Districts at the National Club Championship to be played at Cornwall Park, Auckland 5-10 April 2016.

Manukau had beaten Kamo (Northland) in the semi-finals and Greerton (Bay of Plenty) had qualified for the finals by defeating Hamilton Old Boys.

Both Manukau and Greerton have a sprinkling of Northern Districts senior and age group representatives, but it was an ex Knights player who made the most telling contribution to Manukau's wins over Kamo and Greerton. Brandon Hiini, former Knights and Canterbury all rounder, was the stand out performer in both games. Hiini has been off the scene in recent seasons but showed he retains his old skills. He was well supported by a more recent Knight in Nick Kelly, who took 4 wickets in the final, and by ND U19 representatives Sandeep Patel and Jarrod Halliday.

Northern Districts A players Tom McRury and Tom Clout led the way for Greerton, but in the end Manukau were comfortable winners.

Manukau 210 Brandon Hiini 48, Sandeep Patel 46, Shalen Singh 25, Tom Clout 3-41 beat Greerton 127  Tom McRury 47, Nick Kelly 4-21, Jarrod Halliday 3-27, Sandeep Patel 2-36 by 83 runs.